Searching for a cigar that’ll throw a party for your senses? Then top Dominican cigars are your ideal landing spot. Dominican cigars blend quality, versatility, and tradition with an unforgettable Dominican character that keeps cigar lovers coming back for more. So, let’s pull back the curtain and get a better look at Dominican cigar brands so that you can kickstart your Dominican cigar celebration.
The Dominican Republic sits just southeast of Cuba, sharing the island of Hispaniola with Haiti. The warm Caribbean climate and fertile Dominican soil are ideal for growing tobacco. However, while historians agree tobacco cultivation on Hispaniola was around long before Christopher Columbus landed there, it wasn’t until the early 1900s that viable Dominican cigar factories emerged. Dominican cigars wouldn’t receive much fanfare until much later.
After the 1959 Cuban Revolution, many of Cuba’s top tobacco growers and cigar makers moved to the Dominican Republic. They infused new life into the cigar industry with their Cuban cigar-making techniques and traditions. They also capitalized on the void left by Cuban cigars after the subsequent US trade embargo. Then, after the cigar boom of the 1990s, Dominican cigar brands grew in stature and today rank amongst the highest-rated cigars worldwide.
Top cigar brands include Dominican-made favorites, including Ashton, Avo, Davidoff, Macanudo, and La Gloria Cubana. In addition, La Aurora, the oldest Dominican brand, has been in production since 1903. You also might have noticed that numerous Dominican brands feature the same names as Cuban brands, including Cohiba, Montecristo, Romeo y Julieta, Partagas, and others. While this can be confusing, these Dominican versions often equal or surpass their Cuban counterparts in quality and consistency.
Some Dominican brands have profoundly affected not only the Dominican cigar industry but cigar-making worldwide. Two of these brands include Arturo Fuente and La Flor Dominicana.
Arturo Fuente cigars are amongst the most revered Dominican cigars, with a catalog of captivating smokes ranging from everyday classics to luxurious limited editions. The brand was launched in 1912 by Arturo Fuente at a factory in West Tampa. The brand flourished under the guidance of Arturo’s son, Carlos, who took the reins in 1956 and moved production to Ybor City. After briefly shifting production to Nicaragua and Honduras in the 1970s, a new factory was unveiled in the Dominican Republic in 1980, and the Fuente-Dominican connection has thrived ever since.
Carlos Fuente’s son Carlos, Jr. or “Carlito,” now captains the good ship Fuente and has made his enduring mark on the cigar industry with numerous game-changing projects such as the Opus X series. His efforts helped showcase the diversity and quality Dominican cigars offer while proving Cuban cigars were no longer the only game in town.
Arturo Fuente offers an expansive range of best-sellers to fit every occasion and budget, including these top picks:
Fuente Fuente Opus X cigars were launched in 1995 as the first Dominican Puro, instantly becoming the standard by which all other premium cigars are judged. Annual picks for “Best of the Year” lists, these iconic cigars are Cigar Mansion favorites. Opus X cigars consistently rate in the 90s, including the 97-rated Opus X Double Robusto.
The Arturo Fuente Anejo series features exquisite Maduro wrapper leaf aged in Cognac barrels. The sophisticated smoke is velvety rich, refined, and flavorful. The 94-rated Anejo Reserva No. 55 is a rewarding Figurado favorite.
Great taste, value and unique cedar-wrapped packaging make the Chateau Fuente series a crowd-pleaser, including the sweet and spicy 89-rated Robusto, Chateau Fuente Sun Grown, and its buttery Natural Shade Grown counterpart.
Today La Flor Dominicana cigars are best-sellers renowned for pushing the limits of size, body, and taste. Owner Litto Gomez, a jeweler by trade, acquired the boutique label just as the 90s cigar boom showed the first flickers of life. Early offerings were classic Dominicans of the time: smooth, mild, and straightforward. However, that was about to change.
During and after the boom years, Litto Gomez had a hand in the major industry shifts towards bolder, more powerful smokes, larger diameters, and shaped cigars. Today Gomez and his family continue to think outside the box to create La Flor Dominicana cigars for those wanting richly exciting yet smooth cigar experiences.
From classic to thrilling, you’ll find a great option within the La Flor Dominicana range, including these modern classics:
The Ligero and Double Ligero series upped the ante on the size and strength that Dominican cigars could bring to a cigar-smoking experience. The Double Ligero Chisel is a 93-rated bucket list legend.
Air Bender cigars feature plush estate-grown Dominican tobaccos that strike a balance between refinement and strength, making them prized after-dinner favorites. The 5″ x 50 Air Bender Matatan is a 92-rated flavor bomb.
The limited production Andalusian Bull Figurado marries powerful character, sweet and spicy flavor, and deep complexity into a beautifully sophisticated, 96-rated dream of a smoke. It pairs nicely with our LFD Andalusian Bull Ashtray.
Dominican cigars have come a long way in recent years to offer experiences equal to or superior to traditional Cuban cigars. In particular, Dominican tobaccos from the Cibao Valley are often compared to the best leaves from Cuba’s famous Vuelta Abajo region. While Cuban cigars are noted for their singular character and richness, today’s Dominican cigars offer incredible variety and value.
In addition, Dominican cigar makers can pair Dominican leaves with tobacco from all over the world to create the optimal blend. This provides for greater flexibility in quality, style, and taste. Cuba’s cigar industry just doesn’t have that capability. So, top Dominican cigars are the winning option when selecting a cigar that best suits your taste, experience, and budget.
Now that you are ready to kick off your Dominican cigar party, it’s time to stock up with top Dominican cigars at Tuscaloosa’s own R&R Cigars. Our founders, Reagan and Randy, invite you to drop by and enjoy one of the best humidors in the nation, where you can relax with a Dominican cigar while sipping on a whiskey from our world-class collection.
We are always happy to share our passion for great Dominican cigars, fine whiskey, and good old relaxation, so join us at The Cigar Mansion – located at 2703 Fitts Street in Tuscaloosa – your home away from home.
